Full Notification

The following is a summary of criminal activity in El Cerrito. It does not include all crimes. It also does not include non-criminal events such as missing persons, traffic collisions, non-criminal deaths, non-criminal disputes, nor many other police activities that do not result in arrest.

The following is a summary of criminal activity in El Cerrito from July 28^th – August 3^rd.

July 28^th
Arson – 11775 San Pablo Ave. (Frannie Express):
At 12:44 AM, a suspect placed a sweatshirt on the exterior door handle and lit the sweatshirt on fire.  A passerby was able to extinguish the fire before spreading.

Warrant Arrest – San Pablo Ave. / Wall Ave.
At 2:02 AM, an officer conducted a suspicious vehicle check. During the investigation, officers found the driver to have a warrant for their arrest from an outside agency. The suspect was arrested, and the outside agency responded to take custody of the suspect.

July 29^th
Nothing to report.

July 30^th
Felon in Possession of Firearm / Probation Violation x 2 / Narcotics Sales x 2 / Warrant Arrest / False Identification to Peace Officer – San Pablo Ave. / Wall Ave.
At 4:29 AM, officers conducted a traffic enforcement stop on a vehicle. During the investigation, the subject gave officers a false name. Officers were able to later identify the subject and found the subject to have a probation violation and outstanding felony warrants for their arrest. Further investigation into the suspect’s vehicle led officers to locate evidence of narcotic sales and a loaded and concealed handgun under the seat. The passenger of the vehicle was also arrested for evidence of narcotic sales. Officers also found the passenger to have a warrant for a probation violation. Both subjects were arrested, booked at the El Cerrito Police Department and transported to Martinez Detention Facility.

July 31^st
Shoplift – 1000 El Cerrito Plaza (Lucky):
At 1:48 PM, an officer reports a suspect stole merchandise. The suspect was located and placed under citizen’s arrest. The suspect was arrested and released on scene with a citation.

August 1^st
Stolen Vehicle – 11000 Block of San Pablo Ave.
At 7:52 AM, a victim reports their vehicle was stolen sometime in the early morning.

Vandalism – 11344 San Pablo Ave.  (Denny’s):
At 12:56 PM, a subject was placed under arrest for vandalizing property. During the investigation, the subject required medical attention. The subject was taken to the hospital by ambulance and released with a citation.

Theft – 6510 Stockton Ave. (El Cerrito Library).
At 7:05 PM, a victim reports their property was stolen. 

Shoplift – 6000 El Cerrito Plaza (Marshalls).
At 7:15 PM, an officer reports a suspect stole merchandise and fled prior to police arrival.

Shoplift / Warrant Arrest / Drug Paraphernalia – 6000 El Cerrito Plaza (Marshalls):
At 7:15 PM, while on the above call for service, officers located and arrested two suspects for shoplifting. One of the suspects was found to have multiple out of county warrants and drug paraphernalia on their persons. Both suspects were arrested, booked at the El Cerrito Police Department and transported to the Martinez Detention Facility.

August 2^nd
Vehicle Tampering – 6900 block of Wilson Way:
Between 7:30 PM on 08/01/2024 and 11:55 AM on 08/02/2024, a suspect damaged a door handle and entered the vehicle. The suspect rummaged through the victim’s vehicle, but there was no known loss. 

Grand Theft – 6300 block of Jordan Ave.
Between 11:00 PM on 08/01/2024 and 12:01 AM on 08/02/2024, a suspect stole six feet of AT&T copper cable from a power pole.

Criminal Threats – 6700 block of Glen Mawr Ave.
At 3:01 PM, the victim received threatening text messages.

Vehicle Tampering – 6700 block of Glen Mawr Ave.
Between 5:00 AM - 5:30 AM, a suspect damaged a door handle and entered the vehicle. The suspect rummaged through the victim vehicle, but there was no known loss. 

Grand Theft – 1600 block of Everett St.
At 5:26 PM, an officer reports the theft of a catalytic converter that occurred sometime overnight.

Assault with a Deadly Weapon- 11565 San Pablo Ave. (Walgreens):
At 6:37 PM, an officer reports an employee recognized a known shoplifter and refused to provide them with service. The suspect became upset and sprayed the employee with the contents from a used syringe. The suspect was arrested, booked at the El Cerrito Police Department and transported to the Martinez Detention Facility.

Robbery / False Identification to a Peace Officer / Warrant - 5920 Cutting Blvd. (Jack in the Box):
At 7:27 PM, officers responded to the business for a suspect trying to break into the cash register.  Upon arrival, officers detained the suspect and were initially given a false name. Officers later identified the subject via a Mobile Fingerprint Scanner. During the investigation, officers discovered the suspect had an active arrest warrant. The suspect was arrested, booked at the El Cerrito Police Department and transported to the Martinez Detention Facility.

Shoplift / False Identification to a Peace Officer / Possession of Paraphernalia - 670 El Cerrito Plaza (CVS):
At 7:32 PM, officers responded to the business for a theft. Officers canvased the area and located the suspect at the El Cerrito Plaza BART station and was found to be in possession of the stolen merchandise. During a search incident to arrest, a glass pipe known for smoking methamphetamine was located on the suspect. The suspect was arrested, booked at the El Cerrito Police Department and released with a citation.

Stolen Vehicle Recovery - Conlon Ave. / Kearney Ave.
At 3:33 AM, an officer noticed a suspicious trailer with a boat parked in an empty lot. The officer conducted a records check and discovered the trailer and boat were reported as stolen. The owner was notified, and the vehicle and trailer were released.

Stolen Vehicle Recovery / Warrant Arrest - Kearney Ave. / Knott Ave.
At 4:27 AM, an officer was alerted via FLOCK of a stolen license plate. Officers circulated the area and located the vehicle parked in the BART parking lot. Officers contacted the occupant of the vehicle and when they ran the VIN number, they discovered the vehicle was reported as stolen. During a records check of the driver, officers discovered the driver to have a warrant for their arrest. The driver was arrested, booked at the El Cerrito Police Department and was transported to the Martinez Detention Facility.

August 3^rd
Vehicle Tampering – 1700 block of Julian Ct.
Between 2:00 AM - 8:34 AM, a suspect entered an unlocked vehicle and rummaged through the victim vehicle. No known loss was reported.

Commercial Burglary – 11100 San Pablo Ave.
At 8:00 AM, a suspect shattered the front glass door of the office space. Entry was made, but nothing was stolen.

Battery – 6600 block of Cutting Blvd.
At 1:58 PM, two residents engaged in mutual combat during a dispute.  Both subjects desired prosecution against the other. Report was forwarded to the District Attorney’s Office.

Shoplift / Drug Paraphernalia – 670 El Cerrito Plaza (CVS) / 7000 El Cerrito Plaza (Daiso):
At 4:17 PM, an officer accepted the citizen’s arrest of a suspect after the suspect entered both businesses and stole merchandise.  During a search incident to arrest, a glass pipe known for smoking methamphetamine was located on the suspect. The suspect was booked at the El Cerrito Police Department and transported to the Martinez Detention Facility.

Assault - 9937 San Pablo Ave. (Lama Bar):
At 1:15 AM, an officer reports a fight occurred inside the bar. An uninvolved patron approached the suspect to inquire why the fight occurred when the suspect hit the victim over the head with an empty glass. Employees escorted the suspect out of the bar and the suspect fled prior to police arrival. The victim was transported to the hospital by friends.